Cholera outbreak: 16 of 24 water samples found non-potable in Panchkula

Panchkula, July 19

Of the 24 water samples collected from Abheypur and Budhanpur villages, 16 were found to have coliform bacteria, meaning “non-potable”.

The samples were analysed at a government laboratory in Ramgarh. Four other samples collected from Sector 16 (one sample), Rajiv Colony (two) and Indira Colony (one) were found to be fit for drinking. So far, 55 samples have been collected and sent to the Ramgarh laboratory for analysis.

Of the 55 water samples, the report of 28 (16 found non-potable and 12 potable) have been received, while that of 27 is still awaited. Of the 35 stool samples, 23 have been found positive for vibrio cholera. Meanwhile, the number of patients infected with cholera reached 440 today. As many as 72 (30 adults and 42 children) are still under treatment at the Civil Hospital in Sector 6.

Only one fatality — that of a nine-year-old boy from Abheypur — has been reported so far.

The Health Department today continued its door-to-door survey at Abheypur village.

So far, 4,553 households have been visited and over one lakh packets of ORS, 8,206 tablets of chlorine and 1,911 of zinc have been distributed among residents.

People have been told to drink only boiled water.

According to epidemiological observations, leakage and mixing of dirty water with that meant for drinking, open drainages and poor sanitary conditions are behind the cholera outbreak. — TNS